The World Today - Friday, February 21, 2003 12:45
ELEANOR HALL: Well, now to the elections which are again underway in Papua New Guinea.
Eight months ago, violence and controversy marred the electoral process in PNG's oil and gas rich Southern Highlands Province.
But while voting has now begun again for the six vacant seats in the National Parliament, our correspondent Shane McLeod reports that there's renewed concern that things could once again slip into chaos.
SHANE McLEOD: He was an hour and a half late, but PNG's acting Electoral Commissioner did eventually arrive at Government House to formally launch the new elections.
Andrew Trawen had paperwork for Governor-General, Sir Silas Atopare, to sign. And around half past three, the Governor-General set the fresh Southern Highlands elections running.
SILAS ATOPARE: This elections is of paramount importance to the people of Southern Highlands so that they can be able to have full and fair representation in Parliament.
I therefore wish to appeal to all the people of Southern Highlands province for their considered approach to cooperate with the electoral officials to allow for a successful and peaceful election, and to not allow for the repetition of last year's experiences.
SHANE McLEOD: Sir Silas Atopare. Elections in Southern Highlands collapsed spectacularly last year in a melee of violence, ballot boxes being destroyed and hijacked, and intimidation of election officials.
Six seats, including five district electorates and the provincial seat, weren't declared at the direction of the Electoral Commissioner, Reuben Kaiulo. While there are still some questions over why amidst all that trouble, three seats in the province could be declared,
the main focus in the eight months since has been to try to address the root problems that caused things to go so wrong last year.
Sir Silas paid tribute to those who've been part of the process.
SILAS ATOPARE: The [inaudible] forces, the Police Force especially, for their efforts in getting the province to, to normality. Lastly but not the least, I wish to commend all the media organisations in Papua New Guinea for their coverage of elections in Papua New Guinea. And I ask the media organisations to cover this election on a positive note.
SHANE McLEOD: Planning for the fresh elections has been going on since last year. Plans to hold them in January were aborted because of security concerns. This time, there was a last minute hiccup when election workers from last year's poll threatened to disrupt things this time around because they hadn't been paid.
But after a frantic scramble for the cash, acting Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen is confident things will go to plan.
ANDREW TRAWEN: That's been settled this morning after my meeting with the acting secretary for finance, together with the administrator from the Southern Highlands. We met the finance people and we are very confident of getting the money, sometime tomorrow or early next week.
SHANE McLEOD: Efforts have been made to keep this election more manageable. Nominations by candidates will only be allowed in the province itself to try to stop aspiring Port Moresby-based Southern Highlanders from trying to manipulate the action. And there's naturally a big focus on security by the Police and Defence Forces.
Police Commissioner, Sam Inguba, has already dispatched some of his mobile squads to the region and says he'll outline his full security plan to the Government in a briefing early next week.
SAM INGUBA: I do not anticipate a major, major problem in the province. However, we cannot predict that there won't be problems. But we have, I am looking forward to meeting any unexpected situations that may, may eventuate in the province and especially in those five electorates.
SHANE McLEOD: The Southern Highlands is one of the most populated regions of the country. It's home to some of PNG's the nation's most productive oil and gas fields. The voting period arrives in late April, following two months of campaigning and it's hoped the filling of the six vacant parliamentary seats will be straightforward and trouble-free.
For The World Today, this is Shane McLeod, in Port Moresby.
ELEANOR HALL: And that's all from The World Today team for this week.
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